It was only a matter of time before Madonna’s life got the biopic treatment, but as for who is fit to play her? That’s a separate battle entirely.
In 2020, the songstress confirmed that she would be working on a movie about her life, serving as the subject, co-writer and director. According to Madonna, her reason to be so heavily-involved is due to the previous projects about her life being created by men. For her, this film is just as much about taking her own story back as much as it is telling it.
Understandably, given Madonna’s stature, there has been no shortage of interest for the leading role. Among the contenders for the coveted role are Julia Garner, Florence Pugh and Alexa Demie. Below, everything we know about auditions for the biopic so far, including the alleged ‘Madonna bootcamp’ said to be taking place right now.
Who has auditioned for the Madonna biopic?
The current shortlist for the role of Madonna includes industry heavyweights like Julia Garner (Ozark, Inventing Anna), Florence Pugh (Midsommar, Black Widow), Alexa Demie (Euphoria) and newcomer Emma Laird (Mayor of Kingstown). Singers Bebe Rexha and Sky Ferreira have also been tapped as part of the search, given that the leading role requires a fair bit of vocal work.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that contenders must endure a “gruelling” audition process with the casting director as well as a ‘Madonna boot camp,’ which includes intense choreography training sessions lasting up to 11 hours a day with the singer herself and her choreographer. For the call-back portion of the process, the actresses must do readings with Madonna along with singing auditions.
“You have to be able to do everything,” another source told the publication.
It is rumoured that once the star of the show is actually chosen, they will still need to undergo several months of intense training before filming begins.
What is Little Sparrow about?
In a 2020 statement, Madonna said she wants to use the film to “convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer — a human being, trying to make her way in this world.”
Then, in a 2020 Instagram Live, she elaborate further saying: “We do talk about Andy [Warhol], and Keith [Haring], and Jean-Michel Basquiat and Martin Burgoyne and the whole coming up as an artist in Manhattan, downtown, Lower East Side in the early ’80s.
“Honestly, [it’s] one of the best times of my life, and one of the worst times. I hope I can portray or express what a thrilling time that was for me in every way.”
In the same video, she detailed that the film would be about her “struggle as an artist trying to survive in a man’s world as a woman,” and the “happy, sad, mad, crazy, good, bad, and ugly” journey she embarked on to become the icon she is today.
Currently, Universal Pictures has signed on for distribution but is yet to receive a green light.
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